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The New Milford NJ Volunteer Fire Department and The New Jersey & New York Volunteer Fireman’s Association presented a donation to the family of a New Milford Junior firefighter whose home was seriously damaged by an early morning blaze on January 24th.

The Lignos family exemplifies the spirit of volunteering in Bergen County New Jersey. The father, John Lignos who has been the president of the New Milford Little league for numerous years, daughters Alexis, Ashley, and Angela who have coached junior cheerleading, and son Andrew who has been a member of The New Milford Fire Department have all been extremely involved in community outreach for numerous years.

Early Friday morning, a smokey basement caused extensive damage to the family’s New Milford home. A quick response by local volunteer firefighters quickly contained the blaze, but smoke, flames, and water caused substantial damage to the family’s home rendering it unable to be occupied.

The family was given a donation from the New York & New Jersey Volunteer Fireman’s Association to Wal Mart for clothes and other goods that were damaged in the fire. The money is obtained through the sale of clothing from the donation drop boxes by the DPW and shoprite.

At 2137 hrs on Wednesday February 11th a general alarm was paged out for a reported fire at 222 Main Street. New Milford Police Department was first to arrive and reported flames showing. Engine 32 was the first arriving fire dept unit and 303 (Capt. Rhein) confirmed flames showing from the first floor of a 2 1/2 story two family home. Assistant chief 301 (Asst. Chief D.Stormer) arrived shortly after and called for a full 2nd alarm assignment bringing in Oradell Volunteer Fire Department, River Edge Volunteer Fire Department, New Milford Volunteer Ambulance Corps, River Edge Ambulance Service, and a FAST (Firefighter Assist and Search Team) from Bergenfield. Crews from Engine 32 and Engine 33 entered the structure in an attempt to make an aggressive interior attack and were faced with heavy fire conditions rapidly spreading up the walls to the second floor. Command then requested 31 Truck to cut a vent hole in the roof to ventilate fire that had reached the 2nd floor and attic area. Fire immediately vented out of the roof and the order was made to evacuate the home to start an exterior attack. After darkening down the heavy fire conditions fire companies reentered the structure to extinguish and overhaul any remaining fire that remained. Command Chief 30 (Chief Nolan) placed the fire under control at 2304 hours. Crews operated on scene for approximately five hours before returning to quarters. One member was transported to an area Hospital with minor burns to his hands. We wish him a quick and speedy recovery. Command was terminated at 0050 hours and Main Street was reopened.

Photos by Brett M. Dzadik (Brettsfirephotos.com)

A donation page has been set up for the families. It is encouraged to donate for those who lost everything.

Last week's fire heavily damaged a home on Main Street belonging to the parents of Company 1 firefighter Robert Matulac. The New York and New Jersey Fireman's Association gave a donation to the family of gift cards to Wal Mart to pay for clothing and other goods lost or damaged in the fire. The money for donations are obtained through the clothing donation boxes placed at Shoprite and near the DPW.